PALMAE 
5*5 
obtained and utilised, either directly as a source of sugar or indirectly 
to make intoxicating drinks by fermentation. The bud of leaves at 
the top of the stem is sometimes used as cabbage, but of course its 
removal kills the tree. The stems are used in building, but do not 
yield plank-timber; the leaves are used in thatching and basket- 
making, and for hats, mats, &c. ; the fibres of the leaf-sheaths or 
sometimes of the pericarp ( e.g . Cocos) are used for ropes, &c. ; other 
P. furnish oil [e.g. Elaeis, Cocos), wax (Copernicia), vegetable ivory 
(Phytelephas, &c.), betel-nuts (Areca), &c. 
Classification and chief genera (after Drude) : 
A. Perianth 6-partite, enclosing the fruit after fertilisation. 
I. COR YPH1NAE (spadix loosely branched, often a prolix 
panicle; firs, single or in long rows flowering from above; 
cpls. 3, or loosely united, separating after fertilisation ; 
berry; fan or feather leaves, induplicate) : 
1 . Phoeniceae : Phoenix. 
2. Sabaleae: Chamaerops, Rhapis, Corypha, Livistona, 
Sabal, Copernicia. 
II. BORASSINAE (spadix simple or little branched with 
thick cylindrical twigs ; firs, markedly diclinous dimorphic, 
invested with bracts, the <? in 1— 00 cincinni in grooves 
of the twigs; cpls. (3), fully united, producing a one-seeded 
drupe ; fan leaves, induplicate) : 
3. Borasseae: Borassus, Lodoicea. 
III. LEPIDOCARYINAE (spadix branched once or more in 
a 2-ranked arrangement ; firs, in cincinni or 2-ranked 
spikes with bracts and bracteoles round them ; cpls. (3), 
fast united, covered with scales; fruit 1 -seeded, covered 
with hard scales ; feather or fan leaves, reduplicate) : 
4. Mauritieae : Mauritia. 
5. Metroxyleae : Raphia, Metroxvlon, Calamus. 
IV. CEROXYLINAE (spadix simple or one or several times 
branched ; firs, diclinous, usually dimorphic ; when dioe- 
cious, solitary with rudimentary bracts, when monoecious 
usually in cymes of 3 firs., 2 being S and 1 $ , or rarely 
00 c? and 1 at the end of the row being $ ; cpls. (3), 3- 2- 
i-loc.; fruit smooth, not scaly; feather leaves): 
6. Arecineae: Caryota, Arenga, Leopoldinia, Iriartea, Cero- 
xylon, Chamaedorea, Oreodoxa, Euterpe, Kentia, 
Areca. 
7. Cocoineae : Elaeis, Attalea, Cocos, Bactris, Desmoncus. 
B. Perianth rudimentary in $ or ? . Fruit in dense heads. 
V. PHYTELEPHANTINAE: Phytelephas, Nipa (only 
genera). 
[Placed in Calycinae by Benth.- Hooker, in Spadiciflorae by 
Warming.] 
33— 2 
